Mold changeable elliptical exercisers

ABSTRACT

An elliptical exerciser includes a magnetic resistance mold including a magnetic member and a fly wheel which cuts the magnetic flux to produce magnetic resistance, and a motor driving mold including a motor and several wheels so as to transmit the power from the output shaft of the motor. A clutch device including a lever is operated to set the exerciser to be operated in magnetic resistance mold or the motor driving mold.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an elliptical exerciser which includes a magnetic resistance mold and a motor driving mold. The two molds can be shifted as needed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional elliptical exerciser generally includes a base with a post and two handles are connected to the post. Two pedals each have a first end thereof pivotably connected to the post and a second end of each pedal is pivotably connected to respective one of two cranks which is connected to a first pivot shaft. An active wheel is connected to the first pivot shaft. A second pivot shaft is connected to a frame on the base and a first passive wheel and a fly wheel are respectively connected to the second pivot shaft. The fly wheel includes a plurality of devices that cut the magnetic flux and a first belt is reeved through the active wheel and the first passive wheel. Nevertheless, the conventional magnetic resistance elliptical exerciser requires a lot of efforts to overcome the resistance and could not be suitable for most of the exercisers. Another type of the exerciser employs electric motor which produces less resistance so that the user may easily to operate the exerciser. However, because of the less resistance, the exercising result is limited.

The present invention intends to provide an elliptical exerciser that includes a magnetic resistance mold and a motor driving mold, and the user can optionally choose one of the two molds to meet his or her needs when operating the elliptical exerciser.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an elliptical exerciser that comprises a base with a post and a crank frame connected thereto. Two handlebars are connected to the post and a first end of a pedal is pivotably connected to each of the two handlebars. A second end of each of the pedals is pivotably connected to a first end of respective one of two cranks. A second end of each crank is fixed to a first pivot shaft which is connected to the crank frame. A magnetic resistance device includes a first active wheel fixed to the first pivot shaft and a wheel frame on the base and includes a second pivot shaft. A first passive wheel and a fly wheel are respectively connected to the second pivot shaft. The fly wheel includes a magnetic flux cutting device connected to a periphery thereof. A first belt reeves through the first active wheel and a first passive wheel. A magnetic member for producing magnetic flux is located beside the fly wheel at a distance. A motor transmitting device includes an electric motor which has an output shaft fixed to a second active wheel. A second passive wheel is co-axially connected to the first passive wheel. A second belt reeves through the second active wheel and the second passive wheel. A clutch device is able to set the second active wheel of the motor to be disconnected from other parts.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view to show the elliptical exerciser of the present invention in motor driving mold;

FIG. 2 is a top view to show the elliptical exerciser of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows the clutch device when in motor driving mold;

FIG. 4 is a side view to show the elliptical exerciser of the present invention in magnetic resistance mold;

FIG. 5 shows the clutch device when in magnetic resistance mold;

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the clutch device when in motor driving mold, and

FIG. 7 shows yet another embodiment of the clutch device when in magnetic resistance mold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the elliptical exerciser of the present invention comprises a base 10 with a post 20 and a crank frame 30 connected thereto. Two handlebars 21 are connected to the post 20 and two respective first ends 41 of two pedals 40 are pivotably connected to the two handlebars 21. Two respective second ends 412 of the two pedals 40 are pivotably connected to two respective first ends 310 of two cranks 31. A second end 311 of each crank 31 is fixed to a first pivot shaft 51 which is connected to the crank frame 30. Each pedal 40 has a foot pad 43 connected thereto.

A magnetic resistance device 50 includes a first active wheel 52 which is fixed to the first pivot shaft 51. A wheel frame 11 is connected to the base 10 and includes a second pivot shaft 53 connected thereto. A first passive wheel 54 and a fly wheel 55 are respectively connected to the second pivot shaft 53. The fly wheel 55 includes a magnetic flux cutting device connected to a periphery thereof. A first belt 56 reeves through the first active wheel 52 and a first passive wheel 54. A magnetic member 57 for producing magnetic flux is an electro magnetic member which produces magnetic force when electric current passes through the magnetic member 57. The magnetic member 57 is located beside the fly wheel 55 at a distance.

A motor transmitting device 60 includes an electric motor 61 which has an output shaft 610 fixed to a second active wheel 62. A second passive wheel 63 is co-axially connected to the first passive wheel 54. A second belt 64 reeves through the second active wheel 62 and the second passive wheel 63.

A clutch device 70 which is able to set the second active wheel 62 of the motor 61 to be disconnected from other parts. The clutch device 70 includes a lever 71 which includes a first end 710 pivotably connected to the base 10, and a second end 711 of the lever 71 is used as a handle 712. A first roller 72 and a second roller 73 are pivotably connected to the lever 71, wherein an outer diameter of the first roller 72 is larger than that of the second active wheel 62. The first roller 72 is located at an inside of the second belt 64 and the second roller 73 is located at an outside of the second belt 64. The thickness of the second active wheel 62 is less than a width of the second belt 64 so that the second belt (64) partially reeves through the second active wheel (62).

Further referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, a positioning device 74 is able to used to position the lever 71 to the base 10 and includes a pin 75 which extends through the lever 71 and one of two positioning holes 120, 121 defined through a bar 12 on the base 10. The two positioning holes 120, 121 are located at a section of a circular path.

FIG. 1 shows that the elliptical exerciser of the present invention is in motor driving mold and the second active wheel 62 is disengaged from other parts so that the rotation of the second active wheel 62 cannot be output to any part. The lever 71 is shifted to be connected to the base 10 by extending the pin 75 through the positioning hole 121. The first roller 72 is disengaged from the second belt 64 and the second active wheel 62 is engaged with the second belt 64. The second roller 73 is in contact with the second belt 64 so that the second active wheel 62 drives the second belt 64 and the power of the motor 61 is transmitted from the output shaft 610, the second active wheel 62, the second belt 64, the second passive wheel 63, the second pivot shaft 53, the first passive wheel 54, the first belt 56, the first active wheel 52, the first pivot shaft 51, and the cranks 31. Therefore, the pedals 40 and the handlebars 21 are rotatable and the foot pads 43 are moved along an elliptic trace.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, when the user wants to shift the operation mold from motor driving mold to magnetic resistance mold, the pin 75 is first pulled from the positioning hole 120 and the lever 71 is pivoted clock wise, and the pin 75 is engaged with the other positioning hole 121. This makes the first roller 72 and the second active wheel 62 to be located at the same axis, and the lever 71 is fixed to the base 10. The first roller 72 raises the second belt 64 because the diameter of the first roller 72 is larger than that of the second active wheel 62, and the thickness of the second active wheel 62 is less than the width of the second belt 64 so that the first roller 72 can touch and raise the second belt 64. The second active wheel 62 is not in contact with the second belt 64 so that the second active wheel 62 becomes an independent wheel and the user has to swing the handles 21 and the pedals 40 to overcome the magnetic resistance generated due to that the magnetic flux form the magnetic member 57 is cut by the fly wheel 55. The power of the second passive wheel 63 is transmitted to the first roller 72 and cannot be transmitted to the second active wheel 62 so that the motor 61 is protected from being damaged by the power.

The elliptical exerciser can be optionally shifted by the user so as to meet the user's need between the motor driving mold and the magnetic resistance mold. The motor is protected when the exercisers is set to the magnetic resistance mold.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the clutch device 70 may have bearings 80 and a one-direction bearing 81 installed at an inner periphery of the second active wheel 62 of the motor 61. The output shaft 610 includes an extension portion 611 with smaller diameter and the bearings 80 are mounted to the output shaft 610 and the one-direction bearing 81 encloses the extension portion 611 with an annular gap defined between the extension portion 611 and the one-direction bearing 81. A tube 90 is movably mounted to the extension portion 611 and an outer periphery of the tube 90 is in contact with the one-direction bearing 81 so that the power of the motor 61 is transmitted from the output shaft 610, the tube 90, the one-direction bearing 81, the second active wheel 62, the second belt 64, the second passive wheel 63, the second pivot shaft 53, the first passive wheel 54, the first belt 56, the first active wheel 52, the first pivot shaft 51, and the cranks 31. Therefore, the pedals 40 and the handlebars 21 are rotatable and the foot pads 43 are moved along an elliptic trace. And when the tube 90 is pulled out apart from the touching position with the one-direction bearing 81, the one-direction bearing 81 does not touch the output shaft 610 and the extension portion 611 so that the motor 61 is protected from being damaged by the power from the user. In another embodiment, wherein the one-direction bearing 81 can be a needle bearing.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1. An elliptical exerciser comprising: a base (10) with a post (20) and a crank frame (30) connected thereto, two handlebars (21) connected to the post (20) and two respective first ends (41) of two pedals (40) pivotably connected to the two handlebars (21) respectively, two respective second ends (412) of the two pedals (40) pivotably connected to two respective first ends (310) of two cranks (31), a second end (311) of each crank (31) fixed to a first pivot shaft (51) which is connected to the crank frame (30), each pedal (40) having a foot pad (43) connected thereto; a magnetic resistance device (50) including a first active wheel (52) which is fixed to the first pivot shaft (51), a wheel frame (11) connected to the base (10) and including a second pivot shaft (53) connected thereto, a first passive wheel (54) and a fly wheel (55) respectively connected to the second pivot shaft (53), the fly wheel (55) including a magnetic flux cutting device connected to a periphery thereof, a first belt (56) reeving through the first active wheel (52) and a first passive wheel (54), a magnetic member (57) for producing magnetic flux located beside the fly wheel (55) at a distance; a motor transmitting device (60) including an electric motor (61) which has an output shaft (610) fixed to a second active wheel (62), a second passive wheel (63) co-axially connected to the first passive wheel (54), a second belt (64) reeving through the second active wheel (62) and the second passive wheel (63), and a clutch device (70) which is able to set the second active wheel (62) of the motor (61) to be independent from other parts.
 2. The elliptical exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clutch device (70) includes a lever (71) which includes a first end (710) pivotably connected to the base (10) and a second end (711) of the lever (71) is used as a handle (712), a first roller (72) and a second roller (73) pivotably connected to the lever (71), an outer diameter of the first roller (72) being larger than that of the second active wheel (62), the first roller (72) located at an inside of the second belt (64) and the second roller (73) located at an outside of the second belt (64), the second belt (64) partially reeving through the second active wheel (62), a positioning device (74) for positioning the lever (71) to the base (10).
 3. The elliptical exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein a thickness of the second active wheel (62) is less than a width of the second belt (64) so that the second belt (64) partially reeving through the second active wheel (62).
 4. The elliptical exerciser as claimed in claim 2, wherein the positioning device (74) includes a pin (75) which extends through the lever (71) and one of two positioning holes (120, 121) defined through a bar (12) on the base (10), the two positioning holes (120, 121) located at a section of a circular path.
 5. The elliptical exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clutch device (70) includes bearings (80) and a one-direction bearing (81) installed at an inner periphery of the second active wheel (62) of the motor (61), the output shaft (610) including an extension portion (611) with a smaller diameter and the bearings (80) mounted to the output shaft (610) and the one-direction bearing (81) enclosing the extension portion (611) with an annular gap defined between the extension portion (611) and the one-direction bearing (81), a tube (90) movably mounted to the extension portion (611) and an outer periphery of the tube (90) being in contact with the one-direction bearing (81).
 6. The elliptical exerciser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the one-direction bearing (81) is a needle bearing.
 7. The elliptical exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic member (57) is an electro magnetic member which produces magnetic force when electric current passes through the magnetic member (57).
 8. The elliptical exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first passive wheel (54) and the second passive wheel (63) are connected to the second pivot shaft (53) on the wheel frame (11). 